God’s Word could not be clearer. Our sexuality is created by God for His glory. If we love and fear God, if we have been made right with God through Jesus Christ, we will submit our sexuality to God. We will repent of sexual immorality and seek sexual purity according to God’s plan.

If a professed believer in Jesus Christ is living in sexual immorality it is an emergency situation. The most elementary understanding of repentance of sin includes the necessity of confession and forsaking sexual sin. This is quite clear all throughout Scripture, especially in the New Testament. Severe warning is given to those that continue in sexual immorality.   

Because God’s will about sex is so clear, and because sexual deviation from God’s plan is so evil, God’s warnings about sexual sin are intense. Christians today need to have the fear of God about what the New Testament has to say about sexual sin, especially what it says to professed Christians who continue in sexual immorality.

Severe Warnings About Sexual Immorality

In Galatians 5, Paul described for us the sinful lifestyle often normalized by those outside of Christ and dominated by the flesh with its sinful desires. He said that the “works of the flesh” are “evident” (obvious, CSB):  “sexual immorality (adultery, KJV), impurity (moral impurity, CSB), sensuality (debauchery, NIV; promiscuity, CSB; lustful pleasures, NLT; total irresponsibility, lack of self-control, AMP), idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries (selfish ambition, LSB), dissensions, orgies (carousing, NASB95), and things like these” (v.19-21a). Notice in this description the prominence of sexual sins.

But in verse 21, Paul says something that might take many by surprise: “I warned you before that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Those who continue repentant in the types of sins that are blatant rebellion against God and indicative of an unchanged life have no hope of salvation.

A professed Christian living in sexual immorality should fear for their souls, driving them to repentance and victory through grace. No excuse will get around this severe warning for those unrepentant. God demands transformation by His grace, which anyone with a sincere faith in Jesus Christ will desire.

Sexual Deviation as Rebellion Against God

Paul is quite clear that sexual immorality is rebellion against God Himself. More than this, the apostle emphasizes that the more depraved and evil people are, the more sexual perversion and deviation from God’s plan for sex there is among them (Romans 1:18-28). Homosexuality is described (v.26-27). No amount of linguistic gymnastics or evasive interpretation tactics can eliminate such clear teaching about God’s view of sexual deviation.

The Holy Spirit through this passage describes sexual rebellion (“sexual freedom” or “revolution” is the world’s spin on it) as His judgment. Sexual deviation dehumanizes mankind. It is “impurity,” “dishonoring our bodies” (v.24), giving in to “dishonorable passions,” a rejection of God’s created plan and “contrary to nature,” “shameless” (v.26-27), and deserving of eternal death (v.32). Anyone guilty of sexual deviation faces God’s judgment for their rebellious and shameless abuse of His creation, their bodies.

The fact that God does not immediately and eternally judge us for sexual immorality is God’s forbearance and patience, His mercy.  Romans 2:4 says, “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.” The serious nature of our sins in the sight of God, particularly sexual immorality, should cause us fear and drive us to take advantage of His forgiveness and new life through His Son, Jesus Christ.  

Zero Toleration for Believers in Unrepentant Sexual Sin

Church discipline is demanded by God through the apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 5.  There was a man involved in incest with his stepmother in the Corinthian church. He was to be “delivered to Satan,” i.e., cast out of the congregation of believers, until he repented and changed. This was for his own sake, to urge him to repentance and salvation, as well as to protect the congregation from the evil influence of a professed believer living in rebellion against God (v.1-8).

Paul doesn’t stop there. God’s champion for freedom from the law and slavery to Christ’s love went on to command the Corinthians “not to associate with sexually immoral people (who are professed Christians)” and “not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother (or sister) if he is guilty of sexual immorality…Purge the evil person from among you (v. 9-13).”

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